"When the sun rises in this continent (Jambudiipa), it is the middle watch of the night in Aparagoyaana; sunset in Aparagoyaana is midnight in Jambudiipa, and sunrise is noon in Jambudiipa, sunset in Pubbavideha and midnight in Uttarakuru."

"Jambudiipa" is known to be India and its continent. Then remaining continents can be reconstructed then as:

Pubbavideha - Australia,Uttarakuru - America,Aparagoyaana - Africa.

Some details preserved by commentarial tradition seem to support such reconstruction.

For example, there is a mention of migration from 'Africa' to 'Eurasia', and no mentions of other migration between continents.

'America' is said to be bigger in extent than 'Africa' and 'Australia', but smaller than 'Eurasia'.

What can we conclude from such reconstruction?

Several instances are given of the Buddha having gone to Uttarakuru for alms. Having obtained his food there, he would go to the Anotatta lake, bathe in its waters and, after the meal, spend the afternoon on its banks (See, e.g., Vin.i.27-8; DhsA.16; DhA.iii.222). The power of going to Uttarakuru for alms is not restricted to the Buddha; Pacceka Buddhas and various ascetics are mentioned as having visited Uttarakuru on their begging rounds (See, e.g., J.v.316; vi.100; MA.i.340; SnA.ii.420). It is considered a mark of great iddhi-power to be able to do this (E.g., Rohita, SA.i.93; also Mil.84).

Yeah, it depends on which continent is which. And obviously we have to translate the modern "seven continents" into the ultimate four great land masses. The point is, he seemed to be able to teleport to other lands. Is this a correct interpretation? How exactly is it said that the Buddha traveled to the other continent?

Very interesting post, by the way! Thanks so much.

A seed sleeps in soil.It's cold and alone, hopeless.Until it blooms above.

Son wrote:The point is, he seemed to be able to teleport to other lands. Is this a correct interpretation?

"Teleport" is rather a sci-fi term. He somehow went very fast to other lands.

How exactly is it said that the Buddha traveled to the other continent?

It is said that he just "went" there.

This reminds also of several occasions when the Buddha, having known the thoughts of particular monk, appeared before him and then gave instructions.

Very interesting post, by the way! Thanks so much.

You are welcome.

Oh I definitely meant it non fictitiously. Tele means to bridge distances and port means to carry distances. I simply meant it in that sense, although yes it's not very accurate. Normally I would imagine he was simply traveling in his mental body, but it indicates that he took alms, bathed and rested. Strange to imagine that 2,600 years ago Gautama might have been receiving alms from aboriginals or in any other country really. This really is terribly interesting though. Why would any of them travel to America I wonder? Is that mentioned? I mean, besides the abundant natural beauty.

Even in the context, it is clear that although the Buddha visited that continent, it is separated by the world ocean. If it really just says "he went there" and nothing more, then there is something we aren't seeing in the context basis. For instance, the authors were aware of something I don't quite see.

A seed sleeps in soil.It's cold and alone, hopeless.Until it blooms above.

No I think Pangaea is supportive of it. The four continents have to emerge from something, as the world forms. And when put in perspective with Tavatimsa at the summit of Meru, it makes even more sense. That way humans could have appeared sometimes after Pangaea separated, although--who knows--they may have appeared much, much earlier. There's no evidence either way. Only recollection of past lives can verify, or ascension to higher dimensions of the rupaloka to examine other worlds in flux.

A seed sleeps in soil.It's cold and alone, hopeless.Until it blooms above.

Son wrote:The point is, he seemed to be able to teleport to other lands. Is this a correct interpretation?

How exactly is it said that the Buddha traveled to the other continent?

It is said that he just "went" there.

This reminds also of several occasions when the Buddha, having known the thoughts of particular monk, appeared before him and then gave instructions.

The Buddha's self-teleportation to other continents was via iddhividha, one of the 6 supernatural powers (superknowledge) of the Buddha and special arhats.

In the Akankheyya Sutta of the Majjhima-Nikaya, a detailed explanation for each of them is given by the Buddha Himself in the form of instruction as to how they may be acquired.

1. IDDHIVIDHA - THE POWER OF TRANSFORMATION.

The Buddha said "If a monk should frame a wish as follows: "Let me exercise the various magical powers, let me being one become multiform., let me being multiform become one, let me become visible, become invisible, go without hindrance through walls, ramparts or mountains as if through air, let me rise and sink in the ground as if in the water, let me walk on the water as if on unyielding ground, let me travel cross-legged through the air liked a winged bird, let me touch and feel with my hand the moon and the sun mighty and powerful though they are, and let me go without my body even up to the Brahma world," then must he be perfect in the precepts (Sila), bring his thoughts to a state of quiescence (Samadhi), practice diligently the trances (Jhana), attain to insight (Panna) and be frequenter to lonely places."

Note that iddhividha can be attained by anyone who has 'mastered' the first 4 jhanas. Not everyone who has attained the forth jhana has this special ability though. Only those who are perfectly skillful at it. So there are puthujjanas (ordinary people with 10 fetters) who have perfected their 4th jhana practice with iddhividha. And there are bare-insight arhats without one.

Son wrote:Why would any of them travel to America I wonder? Is that mentioned? I mean, besides the abundant natural beauty.

Probably because it was a good place to collect alms.

Apart from offering alms, the highly civilized Mayans in Mesoamerica were probably ready to hear a sermon or two as well. Such an intriguing thought... (Note that there are many interesting similarities between the Mayan and the Indus Valley civilizations.http://cdsweb.cern.ch/record/483980/files/0101076.pdf)

Son wrote:Why would any of them travel to America I wonder? Is that mentioned? I mean, besides the abundant natural beauty.

Probably because it was a good place to collect alms.

Apart from offering alms, the highly civilized Mayans in Mesoamerica were probably ready to hear a sermon or two as well. Such an intriguing thought... (Note that there are many interesting similarities between the Mayan and the Indus Valley civilizations.http://cdsweb.cern.ch/record/483980/files/0101076.pdf)

This was my thought too! Intriguing indeed...

A seed sleeps in soil.It's cold and alone, hopeless.Until it blooms above.

For some reason a lot of people think that Jambudvipa is the human planet and none one of four continents on the planet. They think that humans only live in Jambudvipa, supposedly based on the idea that the Dharma is only taught in Jambudvipa. But where does the evidence come from that Jambudvipa is where all humans live...? This is a very common opinion that I see. What's more, sometimes I see people equating Saha world to Jambudvipa, and then sometimes describing the Saha world as our galaxy... From what I understand--and please correct me--the Buddha used the term "saha world" very ambiguously. Also isn't it made clear that humans live on all four continents around Meru?

A seed sleeps in soil.It's cold and alone, hopeless.Until it blooms above.

Son wrote:What's more, sometimes I see people equating Saha world to Jambudvipa, and then sometimes describing the Saha world as our galaxy... From what I understand--and please correct me--the Buddha used the term "saha world" very ambiguously.

Son wrote:What's more, sometimes I see people equating Saha world to Jambudvipa, and then sometimes describing the Saha world as our galaxy... From what I understand--and please correct me--the Buddha used the term "saha world" very ambiguously.

Also isn't it made clear that humans live on all four continents around Meru?

Yes, it is made clear.

Many Buddhist terms gradually changed their meaning, being transferred between countries and generations.

That's what I went with instinctively. Thank you for the authoritative information. It always disheartens me to hear people speaking that way about those teachings, completely out of hand and off base. So my motive in that question was to be able to dissuade others from that, because it ruins wisdom (path) and mental cultivation (merit). Thanks.

A seed sleeps in soil.It's cold and alone, hopeless.Until it blooms above.

The Buddha is said to have traversed the great distance from Uruvelā to the Himālayas to spend the day at Lake Anotatta during the time he was trying to convert the Uruvelā Kassapa, shortly after the Awakening, but the latter was still not convinced of the Buddha's superiority. It is mentioned as one of the seven great lakes in the Himālayas.01

In the same Aṅguttara discourse Mount Sineru is mentioned as the King of Mountains (Pabbatarājā). The mountain is also known in the Pāḷi texts as Neru, Mahāmeru, Meru and Kelasa. It is identified now with Mount Kailash in western Tibet. The Lake Anotatta, which is identified with Lake Manasarovar is on the rocky plains (silātala) in front of the mountain range.

Sineru takes on mythical proportions in the Commentaries, where the Tāvatiṁsa Heaven in said to be positioned on its summit, and the abode of the Demons at its base.

gavesako wrote:In the same Aṅguttara discourse Mount Sineru is mentioned as the King of Mountains (Pabbatarājā). The mountain is also known in the Pāḷi texts as Neru, Mahāmeru, Meru and Kelasa. It is identified now with Mount Kailash in western Tibet. The Lake Anotatta, which is identified with Lake Manasarovar is on the rocky plains (silātala) in front of the mountain range.

gavesako wrote:In the same Aṅguttara discourse Mount Sineru is mentioned as the King of Mountains (Pabbatarājā). The mountain is also known in the Pāḷi texts as Neru, Mahāmeru, Meru and Kelasa. It is identified now with Mount Kailash in western Tibet. The Lake Anotatta, which is identified with Lake Manasarovar is on the rocky plains (silātala) in front of the mountain range.